Select Local Merchants

Dress up your ice cream with a side of fudge or a handful of sprinkles — Dairy Queen is an ice cream shop everyone can enjoy.
Dairy Queen is a jackpot for those looking for low-fat and gluten-free meal options.
Carry-out is also available for those who prefer to enjoy Dairy Queen's cooking from the comfort of their own home.
Catering is also available if you'd like to serve Dairy Queen's tasty dishes at your next party.
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Cheap meals don't have to lack flavor as shown by the innovative dishes coming out of Dairy Queen's kitchen.

“Our father and grandfather have been in the wholesale and retail produce business, and that type of store was a natural for us,” Isaac Nava says, referring to the market and deli he opened with his brother Moishe in 2010. The third establishment to bear the Nava name, it supplies first and second spots—both homestyle Mexican restaurants—with fresh fruits and veggies, meat, and dairy products. Customers will also find plenty of household goods lining the grocery store’s aisles. And at the deli counter, a sprawling menu details sandwiches made with salami, roast beef, and turkey, as well as wraps, salads, and freshly blended smoothies that constantly battle with daily soups over the control of cups, bowls, and curved hands.

Adi Mor opened the first Garden Fresh Market in 1980, selling fresh produce from a 1,000-square-foot lot in Skokie, which he would stock by taking 2 a.m. trips to Chicago's South Water market. Today, Garden Fresh Market sprawls over six suburban locations, where fresh produce from apples to zucchinis is still procured daily.
Grocery items range from fresh meat from Midwest famers to a wide selection of ethnic foods and national brands. The deli slices meats and cheeses both domestic and imported, and house-made seasonal salads and main courses make bringing dinner home easier than stealing it from a neighbor's windowsill. Many of the market's online recipes have even made it onto NBC5, giving its cooks their share of 15 minutes of fame.

Fresh Farms International Market showers its shoppers in grocered greatness, including organic produce, fresh meats and seafood, imported cheeses, and international breads. Tread toward the counter of fresh-caught seafood and reel in one of the market’s aquatic edibles, such as wild octopus ($2.99/lb.), fresh flounder fillets ($9.99/lb.), or live lobster ($7.99/lb.). Protein pilgrims can set sail for the meat department, which can help them build a new society based on hand-cut steaks, smoked ham shank ($1.49/lb.), and young duckling ($2.49/lb.). Cheerful cheesemongers cater to customers’ fancies for foreign fromage, including selections from cheese-making nations such as Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, and Russia. Sink lactose-longing teeth into a Bulgarian feta ($2.99/lb.) or a block of Mountain Brand Swiss cheese ($3.99/lb.) whose neutrality is betrayed by its clear preference for deliciousness. The market’s fresh produce includes California broccoli ($0.79/lb.) and Wisconsin dry yellow onions ($0.19/lb.), and its bustling bakery churns out French baguettes and Italian ciabatta rolls ready to be transformed into sandwiches or whittled into Earl of Sandwich action figures.

Our mission is to be the fines ethnic grocery store in the hearts and minds of our clients, employees,
distributions and neighbors. We always try to surpass our clients expectations !
As a result in our stores you will find items not found in other stores.

So established is Circle K Midwest that even brand-new vehicles recognize what its red-and-white logo stands for—fuel, snacks, and everything else a car might need to keep powering down the road with its driver. Circle K's story starts back in 1951, when Fred Hervey bought three Kay's Food Stores in El Paso, Texas. Under his guidance, these three little shops grew into the more than 3,000 convenience stores that crouch on our nation's street corners today.
After rolling up to a Circle K, drivers can pump their faithful roadsters full of high-octane fuel and send them skipping through a car wash to experience the cleansing touch of Blue Coral Beyond Green and Rain-X products. Then it's time to step inside the air-conditioned shop for a peek at the provisions. Rows of sodas hibernate behind glass doors, and snacks, candy, and their ATM guardians stand boldly out in the open. Some Circle Ks also offer the Take Away Fresh Café, which presents an appetizing lineup of healthy road fare including sandwiches, fruit cups, and fresh-cut vegetables. Drivers can gear up for a long drive with premium coffees or enjoy a cold Polar Pop, whose specially formulated cup keeps drinks colder thanks to the family of tiny snowmen trapped in its foam walls.

Groupon Guide

Their pantry is stocked with saffron; their whetstone is well used; and they’ve had a himalayan salt block for years.
What can you get for the foodie who has everything?
I was pretty sure Gene’s Sausage Shop (4750 N. Lincoln Ave.) had the answer.
More than just a sausage shop, Gene's is a veritable wonderland of carefully handpicked European goodies. From classic Central European fruit brandies to rare German chocolates, Gene's prides itself on carrying items you won't find anywhere else.
Below are five of their hard-to-find products that are great for gift-giving to foodie friends and family:
SPICES AND SEASONINGS
Löwensenf mustard ($4.29 per 9.3-ounce jar)
Since 1903, Löwensenf has been producing mustards for those craving that traditional German-beer-hall flavor, whether you’re using it as dipping sauce for pretzels or spreading it over rye bread for a turkey sandwich. Gene’s carries it in medium, extra hot, and Bavarian style.
Maggi Würze ($3.99)
Gene’s is used to answering phone calls from frantic German expats who want to know one thing, and one thing only: “Do you have Würze?” The answer, thankfully, is yes. With its umami-rich flavor and vegetable-protein base, the dark-colored seasoning sauce is sort of like soy sauce without the soy. Inhabitants of German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland (where Würze originated) are sure to have a bottle or two on the shelves, but it’s not a stranger to Asia, either, popping up on tables throughout Indonesia and Malaysia. Add a dash or two to tofu and noodle dishes or go wild experimenting.
PRESERVES
Harvest Song Tea-Rose-Petal Preserves ($6.49 per 10.2-ounce jar)
When the holiday cheese plates come out, fig and apricot spreads abound, but why not add an edible bouquet to the mix? Harvest Song’s tea-rose-petal preserves contain the delicate aroma of fresh-cut roses with a subtly sweet taste perfect for accompanying soft cheeses such as brie and goat cheese. Pair it with riesling for an unexpected taste guests won’t soon forget.
Hafi Swedish Cloudberry Preserves ($10.69 per 14.1-ounce jar)
A Swedish delicacy, the crunchy seeds of cloudberries add an herbal tartness and extra texture to stacks of pancakes and bowls of ice cream. The berries can even be served on their own topped with whipped cream as a unique dessert. What’s keeping these Scandinavian gems from being every bit as ubiquitous as blueberries or blackberries? Cloudberries can’t be cultivated, so the berries in every jar of Hafi’s preserves are handpicked from the wild.
SWEET TOOTH
Lars’ Own Imported Belgian Pearl Sugar ($3.99 per 8-ounce pouch)
If you think IHOP’s belgian waffles have anything on the real deal, you’re pleasantly mistaken. Belgium’s waffles are traditionally served as easy, on-the-go street food with a caramelized, crispy exterior that makes syrup unnecessary. Pearl sugar is what makes the difference. Almost pebble sized, this special ingredient mixes into waffle dough and creates pockets of sweetness in every bite. Oh, and if you’re not sure where to start, Lars’ Own makes things easy by including a traditional waffle recipe on the back of every pouch.
Photo credit: Sarah Gorr, Groupon

Chicagoans are some of the most active and busiest in the country. However, balancing the pressures of being in the lunch-hour time crunch, leading a health- and fitness-focused lifestyle, as well as avoiding meal monotony (and bankruptcy) can be a tall order.Consequently, for me, a good salad bar truly is golden, particularly when you have been sitting all day and feel like a slob. I love salads and the endless variety that you can discover with each bite, and the serve-yourself atmosphere allows me to get just what I want and the amount of it that I want. I can then head back to my work filled with high quality, healthy ingredients like veggies and lean proteins, and a high does of flavor and good bang for my buck. ConsiderationsBut finding a good salad bar? That is a pretty tough task. For me, the criteria of a good salad bar (and by "good," I mean excellent) are as follows:Clean environment and high hygienic standards with staff that monitors, cleans, and replenishes the product as necessary.High quality offerings that are fresh and prime for consumption, not several days old.Ingredients kept in water, not in oil or a solution.A substantial variety of ingredients. This includes:A substantial variety of ingredients. This includes:Multiple lettuces--I like to mix my options--romaine, spinach, spring greens, even kale.
A variety of dressings, but also balsamic vinegar and olive oil. House made dressings are a major plus.Prepared salads--I do not typically utilize them myself, but a fresh taboulleh or corn salad can be an excellent addition to your every day salad.
Lean, plain proteins. I don't do well with a lot of oils and heavy additions, so I prefer my proteins plain. I do not, however, want them straight from a bag. A salad bar that goes through the trouble of offering you freshly grilled or roasted chicken breast that they themselves have cut? That tells you the type of care that they are going to put into everything else.
Some standards, some rotated items. I like to know what I am going to be presented with, but I also love to try something new! Great for you mind and your palette.Good accompaniments. Yes I am getting over a pound of salad, but I still want a good drink and perhaps some chips or nuts to go with it or for later!SoupsCompostable, reuseable, or washable containers (same for utensils)ParagraphExtra Credit:
Local ingredients (with labels) or organic ingredients.
I love pickles, pepperocinis, and pickled ginger
Fresh herbs. One of my favorite additions is fresh basil
Lemon wedges
Real bacon pieces (nice and crispy) and real croutons!And obviously, all at a good price. This city is expensive enough as it is!I have takem upon myself the arduous task of searching out what are, in my experience, 5 of the top gourmet salad bars in the downtown of Chicago. These venues comply with all of the above criteria, plus make their own mark that separates them from the competition in some way, from local purveyors to ethnic delicacies. But any way you look at it, these aren't your average cafeteria lines.Top Chicago Gourmet Salad Bars(In no particular order)Bockwinkel's Grocery and Deli (The Loop/Lakeshore East)
A hidden gem in the midst of the northeastern Loop, Bockwinkel's fulfills all your needs, from lunch to dinner. A great variety of offerings that rotate in accordance with the deli and what they are making--from balsamic turkey to cajun chicken breast, various pasta salads, and fun ingredients to make sure that your lunch is anything but boring. Grab a soup of any size from the counter next to the bar, maybe some snacks or a Boar's Head Sandwich, and any number of other things to make your day better!Market Thyme (Aon Center/Pedway, The Loop/Lakeshore East)
Market Thyme is truly a one-stop shop without being a store. Though the cold salad bar itself is not the largest, it is in the midst of a melting pot of fresh (prepared in front of you) options: sushi, pasta, bimibap, burgers, sandwiches, and more. The food selection rotates in the hot line in accordance with the season and what people are craving, and expect mini deserts as well! Eat there or take it to go!Foodease Market (Mezzanine Food Court, Water Tower Center, Gold Coast/Streeterville)
Perhaps the best salad bar in the city. Much of the product at Foodease is local, made in house, or delivered directly from restaurants (Foodease is part of the Lettuce Entertain You Entertainment empire). Lots of extras, from fresh herbs to infused oils and vinegars, to rotating hot bars from local chefs to a "chocolate closet." Buy a bottle of wine from the wine cellar, or sidle up to the wine bar itself. Don't feel like imbibing? Grab a Coke Freestyle beverage and make your own trail mix, or sit down and eat on a real plate with real cutlery. A salad bar for foodies, indeed!Plum Market (1233 N Wells Street, Old Town)
Plum Market's salad bar and offerings are, without a doubt, the best in the central Old Town area. A mixture of a Whole Foods and a local market, Plum Market bridges the gap with its variety and ingenuity--pickled vegetables, different coleslaws, and toppings. Anything that the salad bar doesn't have you can turn around and ask for from the prepared foods counters behind you! And then take your lunch and sit down in a sunny, lovely atmosphere, or grab an Intelligentsia coffee and work in their cafe.Whole Foods Market (Multiple Locations, but particularly Lincoln Park/Old Town, 1550 N Kingsbury Street) **SOON TO STREETERVILLE**
One of the biggest Whole Foods Markets in the country, this is not your typical lunch place. Rather, the salad bar is but one of many stations to grab a bite--from pizza to sandwiches. Or sit at the bar and get bar bites and local brew! My only advice would be to go with a game plan, or you will be changing your mind over and over again! This is a place that can be overwhelming if you let it. If you are just focusing on the salad, you will find what you have come to expect from Whole Foods: prepared hot and cold salads, organic ingredients, rotating offerings at the end of the bar. Eat in any number of places--family style near the entrance, on stools at a counter, or upstairs, looking down on everyone below!Honorable Mention:Farmer's Fridge (Vending, Certain 7-11 locations and Nordstrom)
Farmer's Fridge is a hyper local, small batch food company that is rethinking the vending machine lunch. Each fridge is supplied daily, all product is local and prepared by hand, and all ingredients are treated with respect and a focus on health. The salads are, themselves, vegetarian, but you can also purchase proteins to combine with them. New options are soon to be included with a variety of sauces, so that you can tailor your meal to exactly what you want! If you like their products, the company even offers a cleanse and delivery service!You will find salad bars at the majority of grocery stores throughout Chicago, from Treasure Island, to Mariano's, to Mrs. Greens. However, the places that I listed above are more destinations for a meal--complete with proteins, outstanding selection, and more than just your typical offerings. Jason's Deli in the Loop also has a good salad bar, but no accompanying proteins.
How do you stay healthy while traveling and working?